HSJ has learned that former NHS Improvement chief executive Sir Jim Mackey is no longer a candidate to replace Sir Simon Stevens, while two national newspapers reported on Sunday that NHS Improvement chair Dido Harding has also been unsuccessful.
Shortlisting is believed to have been carried out last week, with the trio of KPMG senior partner Mark Britnell, NHS England deputy CEO Amanda Pritchard and Leeds City Council CEO Tom Riordan all making the cut.
According to
The Sunday Times, Baroness Harding was turned down by new health and social care secretary Sajid Javid, in what the newspaper remarked should be interpreted as an attempt to put distance between Mr Javid and his predecessor Matt Hancock.